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WTAE-TV Editorial: New Public Safety Director

June 13, 2014: WTAE President & General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III speaks on behalf of the editorial board in regards to the hiring of a new public safety director for the city of Pittsburgh.

Updated: 2:03 PM EDT Jun 13, 2014

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WTAE-TV Editorial: New Public Safety Director

June 13, 2014: WTAE President & General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III speaks on behalf of the editorial board in regards to the hiring of a new public safety director for the city of Pittsburgh.

Updated: 2:03 PM EDT Jun 13, 2014

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WTAE-TV Editorial: New Public Safety Director

June 13, 2014: WTAE President & General Manager Charles W. Wolfertz III speaks on behalf of the editorial board in regards to the hiring of a new public safety director for the city of Pittsburgh.

Updated: 2:03 PM EDT Jun 13, 2014

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WEBVTT THIS IS A WTAE EDITORIAL. SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD IS CHARLES W. WOLFERTZ, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF WTAE. THIS WEEKS'S PITTSBURGH'S MAYOR FORMALLY NOMINATED HIS CHOICE FOR SAFETY DIRECTOR. STEVEN BUCHAR IS A NATIVE WHERE HE STARTED HIS CAREER AS A MUNICIPAL POLICE OFFICER. HE WENT ON TO BECOME A PENNSYLVANIA STATE TROOPER, AND THEN A SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, WHERE HE SERVED AS WASHINGTON, D.C.'S SECTION CHIEF IN THE COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION. IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME. IF CONFIRMED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, MR. BUCHAR WOULD BE THE FIRST SAFETY DIRECTOR IN DECADES TO COME FROM A POLICE BACKGROUND. WE BELIEVE THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION, BAAS HIS FIRST JOB WILL BE TO HIRE A NEW POLICE CHIEF. PITTSBURGH'S LAST POLICE CHIEF IS NOW BEHIND BARS IN A FEDERAL PRISON SERVING TIME FOR STEALING MONEY FROM A SECRET POLICE ACCOUNT AND FAILING TO PAY TAXES. THE MAYOR DESCRIBED THE CURRENT SITUATION THIS WAY -- WE HAVE TO TO DO TWOINGS. ONE IS TO RAISE THE MORE REAL IN THE BUREAU. AND WE HAVE TO RESTORE THE FAITH BETWEEN THE BUREAU AND THE COMMUNITY. THERE WILL BE OTHER JOBS HE WILL HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH. THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR ALSO OVERSEES THE FIRE BUREAU, EMS, BUILDING INSPECTIONS, AND ANIMAL CONTROL. BUT WE AGREE WITH THE MAYOR. AFTER A TWO-YEAR FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, BRINGING INTEGRITY BACK TO PITTSBURGH'S POLICE BUREAU IS JOB ONE. WE SINCERELY HOPE MR. BUCHAR IS